homeless
HOHM-lihs
Homeless (adj) means Without a permanent place to live. Example: “After the fire destroyed their flat, the family was left homeless.”
adj
1
Without a permanent place to live.
"Whenever I pass the park, I see the homeless people sleeping on the benches."
"The massive arches of the retaining walls have become tent city for the many homeless people in the area."
— Paul Bigland, New trains, old trains, and splendid scenery (2022)
"After the fire destroyed their flat, the family was left homeless."
"The shelter provides beds for people who are homeless."
"The flood left hundreds of families homeless overnight."
How to use homeless
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot having anywhere permanent to live.
Common pairings
homeless shelter
homeless population
become homeless
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like homeless.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- homelesses
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
After the fire destroyed their flat, the family was left _____.
Etymology
From Old English hāmlēas, literally "home-less," built from home plus the suffix -less.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for homeless
useless
ageless
wireless
hopeless
tireless
careless
lifeless
baseless
clueless
timeless
loveless
nameless
See all rhymes for homeless →
Frequently asked questions
What does “homeless” mean?
The word “homeless” means without a permanent place to live. In plain terms, not having anywhere permanent to live.
How do you pronounce “homeless”?
“Homeless” is pronounced HOHM-lihs (/ˈhoʊmlɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “homeless” in a sentence?
Here is “homeless” used in a sentence: “The shelter provides beds for people who are homeless.”
What part of speech is “homeless”?
“Homeless” is an adjective.
Where does the word “homeless” come from?
The word “homeless” comes from Old English. From Old English hāmlēas, literally "home-less," built from home plus the suffix -less.
Is “homeless” a common word?
“Homeless” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between "homeless" and "unhoused"?
"Homeless" is the standard, widely understood word for someone without a permanent place to live. "Unhoused" is a newer alternative some people prefer to focus on the lack of housing rather than defining a person by not having a home; "homeless" remains far more common.
Can "homeless" be used as a noun?
"Homeless" is primarily an adjective, but it is often used with "the" to refer to people as a group, as in "the homeless." Many writers now prefer person-first wording such as "people experiencing homelessness" to avoid defining people solely by their situation.
What is the difference between "homeless" and "destitute"?
"Homeless" specifically means without a permanent place to live, while "destitute" means lacking money and basic necessities. A person can be homeless without being wholly destitute, and someone destitute may still have some form of shelter.
What are common collocations with "homeless"?
Common collocations include "homeless shelter," "homeless person," "homeless population," and "chronically homeless." These phrases appear frequently in news reports and social-service contexts.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include homeless:
